Summertime in Sun Valley is full of concerts and events, hiking and camping trips and gatherings of friends toasting away our famously long summer evenings. From enjoying music on the lawns of the Summer Symphony to hikes in our ample backcountry, food and drink go hand-in-hand with summertime fun. Some of us even spend most of our hiking time talking about where we’ll go to lunch afterwards! To help you add some fabulous food and drink to your Sun Valley adventure, here are some great options for you this summer when you don’t feel like cooking (’cause you’re too busy playing!).
BACKPACKING PICNICS
Headed out on a day hike? Put down the knife for the PB&J and head over to Johnny G’s for a sub! Located around the corner from the Board Bin in West Ketchum, Johnny G’s has homemade subs like the HOKA (turkey, swiss, avocado, mayo and sprouts). Paired with a bag of chips and an Orangina, you’ll be set for lunch at the top of your hike! “We have a great locals following and do our best to keep everyone happy, which isn’t too hard in a great community like ours,” Johnny G said.
Glow Live Food Café, located across the street from Johnny G’s in Ketchum, is a terrific option for a smoothie before your hike. Try the Monkey Love (banana, hemp milk and cacao) for some sustaining energy. Or why not bring the Southwest Greens and Grains salad for your lunch? It’s filled with chopped local greens, local black beans, brown rice, guacamole and salsa, with a citrus cumin vinaigrette. It will transport nicely and be a great lunch for you at the top of Baldy!
Another option for tasty sandwiches in Ketchum to take on your hike is Perry’s on West 4th Street. A Perry’s favorite is the albacore tuna sandwich (served hot or cold) on homemade bread. Perry’s serves box lunches, which come with half a sandwich, fruit, chips and is served with a homemade cookie all ready to go. “Our boxed excursion lunches are popular with locals and tourists,” said owner Keith Perry. “You can call ahead (as early as 6am) and we’ll have your order waiting for you at the door when we open at 7am!”
Wrap City is your one-stop shop for wraps or bowls. The Chinese Chicken Salad is a must-try! It includes teriyaki chicken, cabbage, peanuts, green onions, cilantro, crunchy rice sticks, rice and sesame dressing. Have it in a tortilla or in a bowl. Either will transport great on your hike.
Headed out Carbonate or Croy Canyon in Hailey for a hike or mountain bike ride? Stop by Shelley’s Deli in downtown Hailey before you go and have Shelley do the work for you! Try the House Roasted Turkey Breast with cream cheese, bacon, tomato, avocado, cheddar cheese and sprouts, served on a La Brea baguette. Your order includes a pickle or pepperoncini and a homemade cookie. “We roast our own turkey and roast beef daily and our meatballs are all homemade,” said Shelley Braatz. “We also make all our soups and salad dressings here.”
SUN VALLEY EVENT PICNICS
Besides being the most convenient place to grab a picnic for Sun Valley events, the Short Line Deli in Sun Valley has some of the best picnic fare in town, showcasing gourmet Idaho delicacies like fresh goat cheese and Idaho white cheddar, housemade roast beef, Parma prosciutto so thin it’s almost see-through and Niman Ranch corned beef. There are salad, sandwich and soup specials every day. You won’t be sorry with any deli treat from the Short Line Deli in Sun Valley.
Gazing at Main St. Market’s deli counter in the heart of Ketchum is a mouthwatering event. It’s packed with a plethora of homemade salads including Caprese, Chicken Waldorf, Arugula with pine nuts and shaved Parmesan, and a Quinoa Salads that are great for sharing with toe-tapping friends at River Run while listening to Reckless Kelly. Their Crab Cakes are to-die-for, as is their Grilled Salmon and Veggies. Top that off with homemade sandwiches like their Pretzel Rolls with pan-roasted turkey and brie or smoked ham and dill havarti and you’ll be the hit of the blanket at any Sun Valley picnic! While you’re in Main St. Market, don’t forget to pop around the corner where you’ll find their incredible wine department—grab a bottle to pair with your deli delights and you’re all set!
Last year, Kellee Haven filled a niche in the restaurant scene when she opened The Haven Food Truck. Located on Warm Springs Road (where Play Hard Give Back is located) in Ketchum, you can find Kellee there Monday—Friday from noon—2pm serving up gourmet food. Kellee will whip up some fresh summer salads and sandwiches for your Sun Valley picnic and have your neighbors drooling. Check out her Kale, Quinoa or Melon and Cucumber Salad, and don’t miss the Green Goddess Salad, which is “summer in a box” with fresh arugula, chicken, mayonnaise, herbs, celery, carrots and onions on a bed of spinach. “In the summer I love eating refreshing, healthy and organic foods,” said Kellee. “People can call me the day of an event and I can have something ready for them, or they can call and place an order ahead of time. I’m flexible.”
A crisp, crunchy salad is my favorite meal to bring to concerts and events. Stop by Moose Girls Café in the Courtyard in downtown Ketchum and chef Maxine Veloso and co-owner Marlene Rinerson will serve you up a humongous salad that several people sharing your blanket will enjoy. The Chop Chop and Cobb salads are absolute winners, but you can’t go wrong with the Taco Salad, or the Caeser Salad with either chicken or trout. “I make all our salad dressings in-house and, paired with some fresh Bigwood Bread, our salads make a great meal,” said Maxine.
"GLAMPING" PICNICS
Atkinsons’ Market has 57 years of experience in food and they’ve now spent the past several years perfecting their amazing deli’s “Market Kitchen.” Your glamping (glamour camping) trip will be the talk of the town with Atkinsons’ gourmet Stuffed Peppers or Meatballs, or even a few of their Boar’s Head sandwiches (made on freshly baked bread) paired with their extremely popular Kale Salad, or a bowl of homemade Gazpacho Soup. Don’t miss some of the best sushi rolls in town, made right here in Atkinsons’. Chef Mark Caraluzzi helps whip up beautiful entrées that will glam up your ordinary camping trip. “Our Kale Salad has been a huge hit recently. You can set your watch by some of the people who come in and buy it regularly,” said Mark. “I love to make food that is not only tasty but also good for you—it can be done!”
Vicky Walker of Oak St. Foods on Main Street in Bellevue comes from a foodie family. Vicky’s mom, Julie Hazard, was a caterer and her daughter, Kate Metzger, is the executive chef at Il Naso, so you won’t be surprised when you stop in her deli café and find about a dozen tantalizing salads in the summer. “People practically beat down the door for my Beet and Kale Salad,” Vicky laughed. A hugely popular sandwich is the Bahn Mi, a Vietnamese sandwich served on a Bigwood Bread baguette, with pork meatballs and lemongrass chicken. “I
like to cook a lot of different things, and the menu changes from week to week,” said Vicky. “I post my menu every week on Facebook (Oak St Foods) and people can call and order in advance, or the day of their camping trip, and I’ll do all the work for them.”
Bigwood Bread has a new chef at the helm, Derek Gallegos (former owner and chef of Three Ten Main) and he’s doing some exciting things with the menu at Bigwood—stay tuned for the opening of the 12,000-square-foot Industrial District location this summer (it’s deck will seat 100, with views of Baldy). For your glam camping trip, Derek recommends the Spicy Pig Sandwich with ham, bacon, cheddar, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños and cream cheese, or the Roast Turkey Sandwich with cranberry chutney. “The Asian Salad is one of my favorite salads. With the crispness of the cabbage, crunch of the fried won tons mixed with the tangy mandarin oranges and grilled chicken, it’s a great salad to bring glamping,” said Derek. “Pair it with a glass of Duckhorn Decoy Sauvignon Blanc, and you’ll be set for the afternoon.”